From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers Security Council has imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew on the entire 23 local government areas of the state with effect from yesterday.
Governor Nyesom Wike, in a statewide broadcast, said the decision to impose the curfew on the entire state was taken after an exhaustive deliberation by the security council at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor recalled that on April 28, the security council, in consideration of the recent murderous attacks on security personnel in Ikwerre and Abua/Odual local government areas had imposed a night time curfew on all entry and exit points with Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Imo states.
But, after a review of the present security situation, the governor said there were possibilities of further deadly attacks on hard and soft targets across the state.
“It has become imperative for the government to take further necessary measures to secure our state and safeguard lives and property.
“Accordingly, the security council has, today, after exhaustive deliberation, decided and advised that a state-wide curfew on human and vehicular movements be imposed as part of additional measures to prevent the faceless criminals from unleashing their deadly actions.
“Consequently, a night curfew is hereby imposed on the entire 23 councils prohibiting any human and or vehicular movement within or any part of the state from 10.00 pm to 6.00 am from yesterday, until further notice,” he said.
Governor Wike emphasised that in taking these and other drastic measures at this time, the government’s singular intention was to secure the state and guarantee the protection of lives and property.
The governor urged everyone to be vigilant and promptly report every suspicious movements in their neighbourhood to the security agencies for immediate action.